The Democratic-led panel had four bills on its agenda Thursday as
lawmakers began shaping their response to the slaughter of 20
first-graders and six staffers in Newtown, Conn. The shootings elevated
guns to a top-tier national issue, though many of Obama's proposals have
encountered opposition from the National Rifle Association and many
Republicans.

Besides expanding background checks, the other measures would ban
assault weapons and ammunition magazines carrying more than 10 rounds,
make gun trafficking and the purchase of firearms for people barred from
owning them federal crimes, and provide more money for schools to buy
video cameras and other safety equipment.

All four measures were expected to pass the committee, perhaps Thursday.
But their fate when the full Senate considers them, probably in April,
was less certain. The trafficking measure by panel Chairman Patrick
Leahy, D-Vt., was thought to have the best prospects and the assault
weapons ban by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., seemed to have the
slimmest chance.

Democrats had hoped to reach a bipartisan deal on expanding federal
background checks with conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. But on
Wednesday, Democrats set aside their efforts to win over Coburn after
weeks of talks failed to resolve a dispute over requiring that records
of private sales be retained.